U.S. patent number 4,628,759 [Application Number 06/669,493] was granted by the patent office on 1986-12-16 for driving device employed in a window regulator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nippon Cable System Inc.. Invention is credited to Shoichi Hirai, Tetuo Kobayashi.
United States Patent |
4,628,759 |
Kobayashi , et al. |
December 16, 1986 |
Driving device employed in a window regulator
Abstract
A driving device employed in a window regulator comprising: a
driving member including a shaft and an associating member having
at least a notch portion; a drum adjacent to said associating
member and having an associating projection capable of associating
with said notch portion with some play in the rotational direction;
and an elastic member urging said associating member in the
rotational direction. According to the present invention, the
shaking of the crank lever can be surely inhibited.
Inventors: |
Kobayashi; Tetuo (Ikeda,
JP), Hirai; Shoichi (Nishinomiya, JP) |
Assignee: |
Nippon Cable System Inc.
(Hyogo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
26361521 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/669,493 |
Filed: |
November 8, 1984 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 21, 1984 [JP] |
|
|
59-32024 |
Feb 21, 1984 [JP] |
|
|
59-24043[U] |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
74/501.5R;
242/388.6; 254/365; 49/352; 49/360; 74/501.6; 74/505; 74/506 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F
11/485 (20130101); E05F 11/505 (20130101); E05F
11/483 (20130101); E05F 11/486 (20130101); E05Y
2900/55 (20130101); Y10T 74/20402 (20150115); E05Y
2201/49 (20130101); Y10T 74/2042 (20150115); Y10T
74/2048 (20150115); Y10T 74/20486 (20150115); Y10T
74/20408 (20150115); E05Y 2201/482 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05F
11/38 (20060101); E05F 11/48 (20060101); E05F
11/50 (20060101); F16C 001/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;74/51.5R,501,505,506
;49/352,360 ;242/54R ;254/364,365 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Makay; Albert J.
Assistant Examiner: Westphal; David W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Armstrong, Nikaido, Marmelstein
& Kubovcik
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A driving device employed in a window regulator comprising:
(a) a housing;
(b) a driving member including a shaft provided for rotational
movement within said housing and an associating member, being fixed
to said shaft, said associating member extending from said shaft in
the radial direction and having at least a notch portion along a
peripheral edge of said associating member;
(c) a drum being provided within said housing, being adjacent to
said associating member, being coaxial with said shaft, being
rotatable around said shaft, being axially movable along said
shaft, and having an associating projection, said associating
projection being mounted on a first side surface of said drum
facing to said associating member, being capable of associating
with said notch portion with some play in the rotational direction,
and having a first ratchet teeth on a second side surface of said
drum opposite to said first side surface of said drum;
(d) a ratchet member being provided within said housing, being
adjacent to said drum, being coaxial with said shaft, being
rotatable around said shaft, and having a second ratchet teeth on a
first side surface of said ratchet member facing to said drum, said
second ratchet teeth being capable of being meshed with said first
ratchet teeth;
(e) a spiral spring located between said ratchet member and said
housing and urging said ratchet member in the direction of idling
movement of said first ratchet teeth and said second ratchet
teeth;
(f) an elastic member located between said drum and said
associating member so as to urge said associating member in the
rotational direction;
(g) a first wire having an end engaged with said drum and a second
wire having an end engaged with said ratchet member; and
(h) a first pushing projection and a second pushing projection
being mounted on both low sides of said associating projection, and
being capable of being inserted between bottom surfaces of said
associating member and said first side surface of the drum,
respectively.
2. The driving device of claim 1, wherein said elastic member urges
said drum and said associating member in the direction of idle
movement of said both ratchet teeth.
3. The driving device of claim 1, wherein said ratchet member is a
ratchet plate.
4. The driving device of claim 1, wherein said ratchet member is a
ratchet drum capable of winding said second wire on a peripheral
surface of said ratchet drum.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a driving device employed in a
window regulator (hereinafter referred to as "driving device"),
and, more particularly, to the driving device which can surely
prevent a crank lever from shaking due to vibration of a car, or
the like, or which can always maintain tension of wires in a
suitable range.
Until now, a window regulator shown in FIG. 14 has been known.
Namely, the window regulator comprises two wires 51, 52 being laid
in the window regulator in tense condition; a driving device 54
having a drum 53, for winding the wires 51, 52 in the opposite
directions, to which one end of each wire is connected; and a
driven device 57 having a carrier plate 56, capable of sliding on a
guide rail 55, to which the other end of each wire 51, 52 is
connected. When the drum 53 is rotated in the direction of Arrow A
or B, one of the wires 51, 52 is wound around the drum 53 and the
other wire is unwound from the drum 53, and as a result, the
carrier plate 56 moves in the direction of Arrow C or D.
However, elastic elongation and permanent elongation generally
generate in the wires, such as stranded metallic wires, in the
course of the operation. If permanent elongation and/or looseness
generate in the wires, tension of the wires is lost and it is
impossible for the driving device 54 to correctly transmit the
operational force to the driven device 57. With respect to the
above described window regulator, mechanisms for automatically
eliminating permanent elongation generated in the wires are
discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,400,993 and 4,440,354.
The mechanisms basically comprise two divided drums, i.e. a first
drum and a second drum having ratchet teeth 63, 64 at each facing
side, as indicated by two-dot chain line in FIG. 14. The mechanisms
can eliminate permanent elongation by means of relative rotation of
the first drum 53a and the second drum 53b.
However, in case that such mechanisms are employed in the driving
device, excess elastic elongation is generated occasionally. For
example, when sliding resistance between the carrier plate 56 and
the guide rail 55 increases temporarily, or when the crank lever is
rotated in the direction of Arrow B after the first wire 51 has
entirely wound up, (i.e. after the carrier plate 56 reaches the
stopper 58), the relative rotation of the first drum 53a and the
second drum 53b is excessively performed. As a result, excessive
elastic elongation generates in the first wire 51 (and the second
wire 52). Further, as a result, the mesh of the ratchet teeth 63,
64 might advance in a state of eliminating suitable play. It is
disadvantageous that such excessive elastic elongation of the wires
causes permanent elongation, and causes the pulley 59 and
rotational shafts of other connecting members to be bended, and
causes the operation of the crank lever 61 to be heavy.
Also, in case that the crank lever is rotated in the direction of
Arrow A, one fact that the above sliding resistance increases, or
another fact that the crank lever is rotated in the direction of
Arrow A after the carrier plate 56 has reached the opposite stopper
60 causes the ratchet teeth 63, 64 to fly over with each other, in
spite of meshing direction of both ratchet teeth (this phenomenon
is hereinafter referred to as "flying phenomenon"). The flying
phenomenon causes wires to be loosed. By means of wearing out
addendums of the ratchet teeth 63, 64, it tends to occur the flying
phenomenon.
By the way, a mechanism for eliminating permanent elongation or
looseness of wires, having a brake spring located between the
driving shaft 65 and the drum 53, has been known.
The brake spring 92 shown in FIG. 15 is employed to prevent a
window glass from being raised or lowered, except that the crank
lever 61 or the shaft 96 is positively rotated. In such driving
device, operations of the brake spring 92 are, as described later,
realized by means of association of a notch portion 95 of a
associating member 94 and a associating projection 97 of the drum
54 with some play, for example, an angle of 30 degrees, in the
rotational direction. In that case, the drum 54 is not fixed to the
shaft 96, and the associating member 94 is fixed to the shaft
96.
As shown in FIG. 15, when the crank lever 61 is rotated in the
direction of Arrow B, one side surface 95a of the notch portion 95
pushes a nail 92a of the brake spring 92 in the direction of Arrow
B. Accordingly, the locking operation of the brake spring (due to
the frictional resistance of the brake spring and an inner
peripheral surface of the housing) is released, since the diameter
of the brake spring 92 is reduced. Accordingly, since the rotation
of the associating memeber 94 causes the notch portion 95 and the
associating projection 97 to associate with each other, the drum 54
can be rotated in the direction of Arrow B.
A rotation of the crank lever 61 in the direction of Arrow A also
causes the locking operation of the brake spring to be
unlocked.
Even if one tries to raise or lower the window glass G without
rotating the crank lever 61, the brake spring 92 performs the
locking operation, since the diameter of the brake spring 92
increases, and the associating projection 97 of the drum 54a pushes
the nail 92a or 92b of the brake spring 92.
As described above, as to the locking operation or the unlocking
operation, it is necessary for one nail to move to some extent
before the other nail moves for the purpose of increasing or
decreasing the diameter of the brake spring. For the purpose, it is
necessary to have some play between the associating projection 97
and the notch portion 95 in the rotational direction. If there is
no play between them, both of the nails 92a, 92b are rotated at the
same time, namely the diameter of the brake spring 92 cannot be
increased or decreased. Accordingly, the locking operation and the
unlocking operation do not operate.
Accordingly, the shaft 96 is rotatable in the range of the play
against the housing 111 without rotating the drum 54 itself. In
that case, the crank lever 61 fixed to the end 85 of the shaft 96
is shakable by an angle of about 30 degrees.
Thus, when the window regulator is installed in a car, or the like,
there is a problem that the crank lever 61 shakes or makes a noise
due to vibration of a car, or the like. The problem causes a driver
to feel some displeasure.
Further, the shaking of the crank lever 61 causes the nails 92a,
92b of the brake spring 92 to repeatedly receive impulse force.
There is another problem that the repeated impulse force causes the
nails 92a, 92b to sustain a damage of fatigue. Therefore, the
operation of the window regulator cannot be performed.
As a method for solving the above problems, it is thinkable to
increase a frictional resistance of the shaft 96 and the housing 91
or a frictional resistance of the shaft 96 and the drum 54, but it
is difficult to maintain the frictional resistance in a suitable
range, and it is not useful to increase the frictional resistance
because of making operational force to be heavy, and further,
because of wearing out the sliding portion.
"Idling movement" or "move idly" described in the specification
means that, when a torque due to the relative rotation of a first
ratchet teeth and a second ratchet teeth by means of rotating a
crank lever is generated, slant portions of the first ratchet teeth
and the second ratchet teeth slip in the rotational direction with
each other, and both ratchet teeth moves axially in the opposed
direction with each other, at last the ratchet teeth engage again.
Further, the conception of "idling movement" or "move idly"
includes not only a case that one ratchet teeth moves in the axial
direction and rotates around the axis, but also various cases, e.g.
the case that one ratchet teeth moves in the axial direction and
the other ratchet teeth rotates around the axis, or the case that
both of the ratchet teeth move axially so as to depart away with
each other, and one or both ratchet teeth rotate around the axis in
the opposite directions.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide a driving
device employed in a window regulator which can surely prevent a
crank lever from shaking.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a driving
device employed in a window regulator which can always maintain
tension of wires in a suitable range.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there can be provided a
driving device employed in a window regulator comprising:
(a) a housing;
(b) a driving member including a shaft provided for rotational
movement within the housing and an associating member being fixed
to the shaft, the associating member extending from the shaft in
the radial direction and having at least one notch portion along a
peripheral edge of the associating member;
(c) a drum being provided within the housing, being adjacent to the
associating member, being coaxial with the shaft, being rotatable
around the shaft, and having an associating projection, the
associating projection being mounted on a first side surface of the
drum facing to the associating member, and being capable of
associating with the notch portion with some play in the rotational
direction; and
(d) an elastic member urging the associating member in the
rotational direction, by means of engaging one end of the elastic
member with the drum and by means of engaging the other end of the
elastic member with the driving member.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there can be
provided a driving device employed in a window regulator
comprising:
(a) a housing;
(b) a driving member including a shaft provided for rotational
movement within the housing and an associating member, being fixed
to the shaft, the associating member extending from the shaft in
the radial direction and having at least a notch portion along a
peripheral edge of the associating member;
(c) a drum being provided within the housing, being adjacent to the
associating member, being coaxial with the shaft, being rotatable
around the shaft, being axially movable along the shaft, and having
an associating projection, the associating projection being mounted
on a first side surface of the drum facing to the associating
member, being capable of associating with the notch portion with
some play in the rotational direction, and having a first ratchet
teeth on a second side surface of the drum opposite to said first
side surface of the drum;
(d) a ratchet member being provided within the housing adjacent to
the drum, being coaxial with the shaft, being rotatable around the
shaft, and having a second ratchet teeth on a first side surface of
the ratchet member facing to the drum, the second ratchet teeth
being capable of being meshed with the first ratchet teeth;
(e) a spiral spring being located between the ratchet member and
the housing so as to urge the ratchet member in the direction of
idling movement of the first ratchet teeth and the second ratchet
teeth;
(f) an elastic member located between the drum and the associating
member so as to urge the associating member in the rotational
direction;
(g) a first wire having an end engaged with the drum and a second
wire having an end engaged with the ratchet member; and
(h) a first pushing projection and a second pushing projection
being mounted on both low sides of the associating projection and
being capable of being inserted between bottom surfaces of the
associating member and the first side surface of the drum,
respectively. Whereby, looseness and permanent elongation can be
eliminated, tension of the wires is maintained in a suitable range
because flying phenomenon is inhibited, and the shaking of a crank
lever is surely avoided.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the driving
device of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the embodiment of the
driving device of the invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a window regulator having the
driving device of the invention;
FIGS. 4-9b are diagrams showing the operational states of the
driving device of the invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is an exploded view in perspective of another embodiment of
the driving device of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of another embodiment of
the driving device of the invention;
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are front views of a window regulator employing
the driving device of the invention;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a window regulator of the
prior art; and
FIG. 15 is an exploded view in perspective of a driving device of
the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, numerals 1,2 indicate a first housing and a
second housing, respectively. A housing consists of the first
housing 1 and the second housing 2. The housing contains and
supports a rotatable shaft 3. A drum 4 and a ratchet plate 5 are
rotatably mounted on the shaft 3 adjacently to each other. The drum
4 is also capable of moving in the axial direction along the shaft
3.
A second side surface 6 of the drum 4 is provided with a first
ratchet teeth 7. A first side surface 8, which is an opposite
surface to the second side surface 6, is provided with a first
engaging portion 10 capable of being engaged with a first wire end
9. A first side surface 11, which is adjacent to the drum 4, of the
ratchet plate 5 is provided with a second ratchet teeth 12 capable
of being meshed with the first ratchet teeth 7. Further, the first
side surface 11 is provided with a second engaging portion 14
capable of being engaged with a second wire end 13.
On a second side surface 15 of the ratchet plate 5, a boss 16
provided with a first engaging groove 17 is projected. Also, an
inner peripheral surface of the second housing 2 is provided with a
second engaging groove 18.
A spiral spring 19 is contained within the second housing 2. Both
ends 20, 21 of the spiral spring 19 are inserted into the first
engaging groove 17 and the second engaging groove 18, respectively.
The spiral spring 19 urges the ratchet plate 5 in the direction of
idling movement, i.e. in the direction of Arrow A.
A cup-like associating member 22 is fixed to the shaft 3, and a
fan-shaped notch portion 23 is formed on the cylindrical side
portion of the associating member 22. A driving member consists of
the shaft 3 and the associating member 22. The first side surface 8
of the drum 4 is provided with a associating projection 24 capable
of associating with the notch portion 23 of the associating member
22 with some play in the rotational direction.
An end 29 of the shaft 3 is inserted into a perforation 30 of the
first housing 1, and a crank lever 31 is fixed to the end 29.
Further, a conventional brake spring 32 is set between an outer
periphral surface of the associating member 22 and an inner
periphral surface of the first housing 1, and both ends 33, 34 of
the brake spring 32 are inserted into gaps existing between the
notch portion 23 and the associating projection 24,
respectively.
Both low sides of the associating projection 24 are provided with a
first pushing projection 27 and a second pushing projection 28
(shown in FIG. 2).
The first pushing projection 27 is located on the side portion
where the rotation of the associating member 22 in the direction of
meshing of the ratchet teeth 7, 12 causes the notch portion 23 to
push the associating projection 24. An upper portion (indicated as
27a in FIG. 9a) of the first pushing projection 27 is preferably
tapered, so that it is easy for the first pushing projection 27 to
slide into a gap between the bottom surface 22a of the associating
member 22 and the first side surface 8 of the drum 4, i.e. it is
easy for the drum 4 to axially move toward the ratchet plate 5.
Whereby, the later described operation of eliminating looseness of
wires is made easy. When the notch portion 23 associates with the
associating projection 24 due to rotation of the crank lever 31,
there generates an axial force in the direction of Arrow Q, so that
a pushing force of the drum 4 toward the ratchet plate 5 is
increased, and therefore, the mesh of the ratchet teeth 7, 12 is
more ensured. Accordingly, the flying phenomenon is more
effectively inhibited.
Also, the second pushing projection 28 is preferably provided with
a small tapered portion or a small round portion, so that insertion
or removal of the second pushing projection 28 into or from a gap
between the bottom surface 22a and the first side surface 8 is made
smooth. The shapes and the numbers of the first pushing projection
27 and the second pushing projection 28 are not limited. For
example, as shown in FIG. 10, two first pushing projections and two
second pushing projections can be arranged on a circular line,
respectively. In that case, the associating member 22 can be
provided with a notch portion 23a which is located in the opposite
side of the notch portion 23 and which is provided to a portion
corresponding to pushing projections 27', 28'. Generally, it is
sufficient to provide with one pushing projection 28 and one
pushing projection 29 on the circular line.
Also, a few number of associating projections can be mounted on the
drum, and in that case, the associating member is provided with
notch portions of which number is corresponding to that of the
associating member.
A peripheral surface of the drum 4 is used as a winding surface 36
for winding a first wire 37 and a second wire 38. The first wire 37
and the second wire 38 are wound in the same spiral direction (in
case of FIG. 2, in the spiral direction like a left handed screw),
respectively. The first wire end 9 of the first wire 37 is engaged
with the first engaging portion 10. The first wire 37 is spirally
wound from the first side surface 8 side toward the second side
surface 6 side, goes away from the drum 4 on its way, and is
successively guided into a first outer casing (indicated as 40 in
FIG. 1) through a first guiding groove 39 of the second housing 2.
The second wire end 13 of the second wire 38 is engaged with the
second engaging portion 14 of the ratchet plate 5. The second wire
38 is wound around the winding surface 36 in such direction that
the wire is wound from the second side surface 6 side toward the
first side surface 8 side, goes away from the drum 4 on its way,
and is successively guided into a second outer casing (indicated as
42 in FIG. 1) through a second guiding groove 41. The other
respective ends of the first wire 37 and the second wire 38 are
engaged with a carrier plate 44 of a driven portion 43 of the
window regulator, as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the first wire
37 and the second wire 38 substantially form a closed loop.
As shown in FIG. 5, a center portion of the drum 4 is provided with
a first bore 80 capable of being directly in contact with the shaft
3 and a second bore 81 having a diameter which is larger than the
diameter of the shaft 3. The second bore 81 is coaxial with the
first bore 80. Insertion of the shaft 3 into the bores 80, 81 of
the drum 4 makes a cylindrical space 82 to be formed. A coil spring
25 is set in the cylindrical space 82, and both ends 25a, 25b of
the coil spring 25 are engaged with the associating member 22 and
the drum 4, respectively. In that case, the coil spring 25 is given
torsional deflection, so that the coil spring 25 urges the drum 4
in the direction of Arrow B, i.e. in the direction of idling
movement of the ratchet teeth 7, 12.
Further, the coil spring 25 preferably urges the drum 4, which is
movable in the axial direction, toward the ratchet plate 5.
If the crank lever 31 do not receive a rotational torque, the
associating member 22 is urged in the direction of Arrow E by means
of the coil spring 25 (shown in FIG. 4). Therefore, one side
surface 23a of the notch portion 23 always urges a side surface 24a
of the associating projection 24 facing to the one side surface
23a. The drum 4 itself is hardly votatable, since the drum 4 is
connected to the window glass (for example, indicated as G in FIG.
13) through the wires 37, 38.
Accordingly, the shaft 3 and the crank lever 31 do not rotate
against the drum 4. Whereby, the shaking of the crank lever 31 is
avoided.
When the crank lever 31, as shown in FIG. 2, is rotated in the
direction of Arrow B, the associating member 22 rotates against the
urging force of the coil spring 25 in the range of the play with
the drum being stationary. Then, the other side surface 23b of the
notch portion 23 pushes the other side surface 24b of the
associating projection 24. As a result, the drum 4 can rotate. When
the rotational operation is finished, the associating member
returns in the state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5
When the crank lever 31 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated in the direction
of Arrow A from the state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the drum is
directly rotated in the direction of Arrow A, since the one side
surface 23a of the associating member 23 is previously in contact
with the one side surface 24a of the associating projection 24. In
the driving device of the invention, one nail 33 of the brake
spring 32 is set between the one side surface 23a of the notch
portion 23 and the one side surface 24a of the associating
projection 24 with no play in the state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.
On the other hand, there is some play between the other side
surface 23b of the notch portion 23 and the other side surface 24b
of the associating projection 24. Accordingly, the unlocking
operation and the locking operation can normally behave.
The coil spring employed in the driving device of the present
invention can be employed to any driving device having the drum and
the driving member which are associated with each other with some
play in the rotational direction. For example, the coil spring can
be easily employed in a driving device of a prior art shown in FIG.
15.
As to the driving device shown in FIG. 15, the same spring as the
coil spring shown in FIG. 2 can be set between a drum 54a and an
associating member 94.
In the driving devices provided with a mechanism capable of
automatically regulating tension of wires by means of ratchet
teeth, such as the driving devices shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 15, the
coil spring 25 of the driving device of the present invention also
behaves as an elastic member which urges axially one ratchet teeth
toward the other ratchet teeth, so that both sets of ratchet teeth
strongly mesh with each other. Accordingly, instead of a
conventional waved washer 71 shown in FIG. 15, the coil spring 25
can be employed as shown in FIG. 15.
As described above, the mechanism for preventing the crank lever
from shaking can be employed in various wire-driving devices or
various window regulators. Namely, the mechanism of the present
invention can be employed in one window regulator constructed, as
shown in FIG. 12, by means of separately providing a guide rail 45
and a driving device 48 within a door panel of a car, and
thereafter by means of laying wires in the window regulator in
tense condition, and can be employed in the other window regulator
constructed, as shown in FIG. 13, by means of connecting the
driving device 48 to the guide rail 45 through outer casings 40,
42, i.e. through control cables. In that case, the control cables
are pull control cables.
Hereinafter, the functions of the driving device of the invention
will be described. In order to clearly describe the functions of
the driving device, the mechanism employed in the window regulator
shown in FIG. 3 is described as a typical case. However, the
driving device of the invention is not limited to the typical case,
for example, the driving device can be employed in window
regulators shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.
In FIG. 3, a numeral 48 indicates a driving device of a window
regulator. The driven portion 43 has a guide rail 45 and a carrier
plate 44 slidably mounted on the guide rail 45. In order to change
the moving directions of the wires 37, 38, a wire guide (or a
pulley) 46 is mounted on the upper end of the guide rail 45.
Similarly, in order to change the moving directions of the wires
37, 38, a pulley (or wire guide) 47 is mounted on the lower end of
the guide rail 45.
First and second outer casings 40, 42 slidably guide first and
second wires 37, 38, respectively, that is to say, control cables
are employed in the window regulator. In that case, the control
cables are pull control cables.
In such window regulator, when the crank lever 31 is rotated in the
direction of Arrow A, the second wire 38 is wound around the drum 4
and the first wire 37 is unwound from the drum 4. Therefore, the
closed loop circulates in the direction of Arrow C, and a window
glass G fixed to the carrier plate 44 is raised. In case that the
crank lever 31 is rotated in the direction of Arrow A, the drum 4
and the ratchet plate 5 rotate together in the same direction,
since the first ratchet teeth 7 and the second ratchet teeth 12 are
firmly meshed with each other.
Further, in case that the crank lever 31 is rotated in the
direction of Arrow B, the first wire 37 is wound around the drum 4
and the second wire 38 is unwound from the drum 4. Therefore, the
closed loop circulates in the direction of Arrow D, and the window
glass G is lowered. In that case, the drum 4 is not rotated in such
direction that the first ratchet teeth 7 is not meshed with the
second ratchet teeth 12, but the drum 4 and the ratchet plate 5
rotate together in the same direction, since the tension of the
second wire 38 is given to the ratchet plate 5, and since the coil
spring 25 axially urges the drum toward the ratchet plate.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in case that the crank lever 31 is
not given a torque, the side surface 23a of the notch portion 23 is
in contact with the side surface 24a of the associating projection
24. The former urges the latter. Further, it is not easy to rotate
the drum 4 itself because of receiving the tension of the wires 37,
38. Therefore, the shaking of the crank lever 31 does not
occur.
During the crank lever 31 is rotated in the direction of Arrow A or
in the direction of Arrow B, the first pushing projection 27 or the
second pushing projection 28 is in the state of being inserted
between the bottom surface 22a or 22b of the associating member 22
and the first side surface 8 of the drum 4 (as shown in FIG. 9a and
FIG. 9b). As a result, the drum 4 cannot move toward the
associating member 22 side on the shaft 3, and the drum 4 is pushed
toward the ratchet plate 5. Accordingly, the flying phenomenon of
the ratchet teeth 7, 12 is avoided and excessive elasitic
elongation due to idling movement does not occur in the wires 37,
38.
In the driving device of the invention, looseness of each wire 37,
38 is eliminated, as described later.
When the crank lever 31 is rotated in the direction of Arrow B, the
side surface 23b of the notch portion 23 is in contact with the
side surface 24b of the associating projection 24 in the state
shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Then, when the crank lever 31 becomes
free from one's hand at the same time when the rotation of the
crank lever 31 is stopped, the crank lever 31 rotates in the
direction of Arrow A shown in FIG. 8 due to the urging force of the
coil spring 25, and returns to the state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5
through the state shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In the state shown in
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, neither the first pushing projection 27 nor the
second pushing projection 28 is inserted between the bottom surface
22a or 22b of the associating member 22 and the first side surface
8 of the drum 4. Therefore, the drum 4 can move in the direction of
Arrow P by a gap h. Accordingly, looseness or permanent elongation
generated in the wires 37, 38 is easily eliminated owing to idling
movement of the ratchet teeth 7, 12 by means of the operation of
the spiral spring 19, on the way from the state shown in FIG. 8 and
FIG. 9 to the state shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.
As shown in FIG. 2, the spiral spring 19 having one end 20 inserted
into the first engaging groove 17 of the boss 16 of the ratchet
plate 5 and having the other end 21 inserted into the second
engaging groove 18 of the inner peripheral surface of the second
housing 2 is preferably employed, since the size of the spiral
spring 19 is not limited by the size of the drum 4.
The ratchet member in the present invention is not limited to the
ratchet plate 5. As shown in FIG. 10, as a ratchet member, a
ratchet drum 5a, with its configuration similar to the drum 4,
capable of winding the second wire 38 around the outer peripheral
surface can be employed. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a ratchet
plate 5 having a small cylindrical projection 5b which is contained
within the drum 4 and which is capable of winding an end portion of
the second wire 38 around the peripheral surface thereof, can be
employed as a ratchet member.
Though the direction of the relative torque of the drum 4 and the
associating member 22 owing to the elastic member (e.g. the coil
spring 25 shown in FIG. 5) is not limited, the direction of the
torque owing to the elastic member is preferably the direction in
which the drum 4 is rotated in the direction of meshing the ratchet
teeth 7 with the ratchet teeth 12. Just after the crank lever 31 is
rotated in the direction of idling movement of the ratchet teeth 7,
12, the associating member 22 is rotated by the coil spring 25.
Therefore, looseness and permanent elongation of the wires can be
smoothly eliminated.
As described above, the driving device of the invention has effects
that looseness and permanent elongation of the wire can be
eliminated, that tension of the wires is maintained in a suitable
range because flying phenomenon is inhibited, and that the shaking
of a crank lever is surely avoided.
Though several embodiments of the invention are described in
detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the above embodiments, and various changes and
modifications may be made in the invention without departing the
spirit and the scope thereof.
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